Football scoreboard game



Dec. 27, 1949 J. B. CONLON FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD GAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1. 1946 INVENTOR. E. f

Lamas Comm:

BY lime" MZZZEHEY Patented Dec. 27, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to football score card games and more particularly to a type of score card wherein parts formed in the card are slidable to show the positions and formations of the competing teams and wherein the position of the ball can be followed throughout the game and simultaneously represented on the score card.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple arrangement in a score card which is made with printing matter thereon wherein parts of this card are adaptable to cooperate with and be slidable over a football area to correspond with the position and formation of the competing teams and the ball as it is taken by the teams up and down the field.

It is another object of the invention to provide a score card which is not only usable for one game but for all other games to which the owner might listen on the radio.

It is another object of the invention to provide a score card wherein the parts utilized for recording the game may be removed from their slidable positions, andmay be flattened out and stored in apocket which can be had with the 'card upon folding certain portions of the same,

including tabs adaptedto fill slots and to be bent over to retain the pocket part, all of which is providedfrom a single printed form and without the addition of loose parts which might have to be provided with the card.

. According to the invention, the card is printed :at .one side with a football field giving the usual yard line markings, and on the other side with elements representative ofv the different offensive and defensive formations which the teams'are using. These elements are severed from the card proper and folded in such fashion as to provide handles for moving them. When the football fan determines from the radio announcements which formations the respective teams are using he selects them from the group of elements. Extending along the football area are two parallel slits 'whichare cut to receive extensions of the elements as they are located upon the football field. These elements are thus retained within the slits which are out along the football field, and in such a manner that they can be slid to follow the ball. Between the usual ten yard markings upon the field there are indicia upon opposite sides of each cut slit giving the one yard markings. At the first lineup, the element representing the offensive team is positioned so its forward edge is located upon the yard line where the ball has come to rest. The element representing the defensive team is then located upon the line yards from where the offensive element was located. As gains or losses are made by the offensive team only th offensive element is moved, The defensive element is not again moved until another first down is made. Thus between first downs and by observing the two elements the amount of yardage necessary toobtwo elements.

Once the elements have been severed from the card somemeans must be provided to keep them from becoming .lost. Accordingly, the card is constructed so the portion of the card beyond the fold which has been left after removing the elements can be maintained in a folded position or the front of the card to provide a pocket in which the elements can be stored while not in use. To provide a catch for retaining the folded portion upon the main body of the card tabs are folded down at opposite sides and threaded through out slits in the main body of the card and at opposite sides of the football field.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure- Fig. .1 is a perspective view looking upon the top of the printed score card and at one corner thereof with its folded parts partially opened.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the opened card looking upon the football field and upon the team elements which are to be severed from the card for use upon the football field.

Fig. 3 is an illustrative view of the unfolded card after the team elements have been severed therefrom and two of the same located in the slits which have been formed in the field.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of two team elements separated from the card and folded in the manner such as when they are used upon the card.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the card when the tabs for securing the portion of the card which is folded back over the field within slits formed in the main body of the card at opposite sides of the field have to be cut and turnedv back..

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the card with the tabs turned back and shown approaching the slits in the front of the main body of the card.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the card with the pocket portion completely folded and the tabs extended through the slits and turned down to retain the pocket portion.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view looking upon the front face of the pocket and showing in dotted lines the position of the elements within the pocket when being stored therein.

Fig. 9 is a full size fragmentary view of a portion of the football area of the card in which the yard lines are well marked and with the team elements in place to record a play. v

Fig. 1015 a fragmentary view of aslightly modified form of card wherein perforations are formed in the card on the lines marking out the team elements and the tabs so that their severance from the card can be effected without the need for a knife or other sharp instrument.

Referring now to the figures, I5 represents a score card which is folded along a line 16. The top of the score card has data I! indicative of what the card may be. This data may show a football field within a bowl with the ten yard lines apparent upon the field.

When it is desired to use the card, it is unfolded and its inside will appear as shown in Fig. 2. On the left side of the fold line It, there is printed upon that face of the card a football field I8 showing the usual ten yard lines 19 and their markings at opposite sides of the field. At the ends of the football field and shown by cross hatching are end zones 21 and 22. from end line to end line and throughout the length of the football field are parallel slits 23 and 24 adapted to be out throughout their length. At opposite sides of each slit are indicia 25 and 26 (Fig. 9) which when used together will give the one yard markings between the ten yard lines. The indicia 25 indicate even yard lines, two yards apart, while the indicia 26 indicate the odd numbered yards so that the one yard marking therebetween can be observed.

At the right side of the unfolded card are nine team elements 21 and 28, which are cut from the card by cutting along the full lines thereof. The elements 2'! have the men indicated upon them as they would be when the team taking the offensive is using the particular formation identified upon the elements. It is usually known what offensive formation that particular team uses and accordingly that element is selected. Each element 21 has a plan portion 29 with the men laid out as indicated at 3| thereon. The forward portion of the element has lateral extensions 32 and 33 and a leading edge 34. In order to provide a handle by which the element can be manipulated, a handle portion 35 is turned up along a dotted line 36 (Fig. 2) to extend vertically. With this element 21 cut out and folded and with the lines 23 and 24 cut to provide slits, the element can be inserted upon the field I8 so that its extensions 32 and 33 extend into the slits and upon the front face of the card (Figs. 3 and 9) with the handle portion 35 protruding upwardly from the surface of the card.

The leading edge 34 will be adjusted to the location on the field where the ball may be for the moment. The leading edge 34 is on the thirty-four yard line, as shown in Fig. 9.

The team on the defensive will be announced as using certain type of formation as given on any one of the three defensive elements 28. The team element 28 is accordingly selected and it too has a leading edge 31 and extensions 38 and 39 adapted to slide through the cut slits 23 and 24. The element 28 has a handle portion 41 folded up along the line 42 from the main por tion of the element 28. With this element formed it is located in the slits 23 and 24 ahead of the offensive element 21. With a first down coming up the edge 3'! of the defensive element 28 is located exactly ten yards in advance of the edge 34 of the offensive element 21 which has been previously located on the ball location. As gains are made the element 2'! is advanced with the ball. The element 28 remains in place until ten yards have been gained and a first down made.

Extending Thereafter the defensive element will be readjusted to a new ten yard setting. This process continues until a touch down has been made. As the original defensive team takes the offensive, a team element indicative of their form of offensive play is inserted in the slits with its edge on the ball and facing the opposite side of the field than that which the original element faced. An appropriate defensive element is matched up with it. The ball is now followed in the opposite direction along the field.

When the game is over some dispositions of the team elements must be had if it is desired to store them. Beyond the fold line it is a portion 43 which may have information thereon pertaining to how to use the card, value of scores and penalties. Ihis portion 43 is left after the team elements have been severed. By cutting along full lines 44 and 45 from the sides of the card and folding downwardly along dotted lines 46 and 47, tabs 48 and G9 are provided. The portion 43 with the tabs is then folded back upon the front face of the card and the tabs are placed through slits 54 formed by cutting along the short lines 52 at opposite sides of the football area. With the tabs bent down a pocket 53 is formed on the front of the card into which the unused elements 21 and 23 are thrust or stored when not in use.

Referring now to Fig. if), it will be noted'that perforations 54 are provided along what was full lines, as shown in Fig. 2. These perforations permit the removal of team elements without a sharp instrument. Also the tabs 48 and 49 are perforated along side lines 4 5 and 45, as indicated at 55. By severing the tabs along these lines, they can be folded on their dash lines 436 and 41. Areas 58 and 5'! become scrap when the elements have been severed from the card.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

A football score card comprising a football field area having line indications thereover, said card having a slit extending from one end of the field to the other, and a team element slidable in said slit for location upon the field to indicate the line location of the ball as it is being played over the field, said card having a second slit extending parallel to the first slit, said element having an extension to cooperate with said second slit so that the team element will be steadied against angular displacement when being worked across the football area, said element having a portion thereof folded vertically to provide a handle to be grasped by the operator.

JAMES B. CONLON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 546,959 Larzelere Sept. 24,1895 1,678,432 Haslacher July 24, 1928 1,679,160 Helland et a1 July 31, 1928 2,131,825 Sultzer Oct. 4, 1938 2,355,905 Buxbaum Aug. 15, 1944 

